• Cardiac Regeneration Research at the The Kühn Lab
  • By focusing on the mechanisms of growth and regeneration of the myocardium, Dr. Kühn and his team’s research has already led to important discoveries.

• UPMC Children’s Heart Institute Team Publishes Latest Findings on Minimally Invasive Heart Transplant Rejection Monitoring Using Donor-Derived Cell-Free DNA Blood Testing
  • Leading the study was Brian Feingold, MD, MS, FAHA, professor of Pediatrics and Medical Director of the Heart Failure and Transplant Program at the Heart Institute at UPMC Children’s.

• UPMC Children’s Heart Institute Team Publishes Exciting New Research on Thromboprophylaxis in Fontan Circulation
  
  • New findings were published on methods of thromboprophylaxis and their efficacy in patients with Fontan circulation.

• Pulmonary Complications in Patients With Fontan Circulation: JACC Review Topic of the Week. Abdulkarim A, Shaji S, Elfituri M, Gunsaulus M, Zafar MA, Zaidi AN, Pass RH, Feingold B, Kurland G, Kreutzer J, Ghassemzadeh R, Goldstein B, West S, Alsaied T. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2023 Jun 27;81(25):2434-2444. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2023.04.036.

• Pulmonary Artery Hypoplasia in Neonates With Tetralogy of Fallot. Petit CJ, Glatz AC, Goldstone AB, Law MA, Romano JC, Maskatia SA, Chai PJ, Zampi JD, Meadows JJ, Nicholson GT, Shahanavaz S, Qureshi AM, McCracken CE, Mascio CE, Batlivala SP, Asztalos IB, Healan SJ, Smith JD, Pettus JA, Beshish A, Raulston JEB, Hock KM, Pajk AL, Goldstein BH. lJ Am Coll Cardio. 2023 Aug 15;82(7):615-627.

• Optimizing Surgical Selection for Transposition With Left Ventricular Outflow Tract Obstruction. Seese L, Castrillon CD, Da Silva LDF, Tarun S, Castro-Medina M, Viegas M, Da Silva JP, Morell VO. Ann Thorac Surg. 2023 Sep 28:S0003-4975(23)00974-8.

• Cone repair after tricuspid valve replacement in Ebstein anomaly. Da Fonseca Da Silva L, Da Silva JP, Seese L, Guerrero Becerra AF, Castro-Medina M, Viegas M, Morell VO. JTCVS Tech. 2023 May 2;20:150-152.

• Pulmonary Homograft vs Handmade Polytetrafluoroethylene-Valved Conduits After the Ross Procedure. Diaz-Castrillon CE, Viegas M, Castro-Medina M, Punu K, Tarun S, DaSilva Da Fonseca L, Morell V. Ann Thorac Surg. 2023 Nov;116(5):980-986.

• Right Atrial Enlargement on Electrocardiogram in Previously Healthy Young Patients. Haack L, Das N, Hoskoppal A, DeBrunner M, Alsaied T, Arora G. J Pediatr. 2023 Nov 2;265:113814

• Long-Term outcomes in adult patients with congenital heart disease considered for transplantation: A single center study. Hickey G, Ratnayake C, Elliot A, Alsaied T, Fabio A, Cook S, Hindes M, Hoskoppal A, Saraf A. Clin Transplant. 2023 Nov;37(11):e15101.

• Living to Tell the Tale: A First-Person Chronicle of the Development of the Fontan-Kreutzer Procedure. Kreutzer GO, Lugones I, Kreutzer J, Kreutzer C. World J Pediatr Congenit Heart Surg. 2023 Oct 6:21501351231201849.

• Using DaSilva Cone Operation to Establish 1.5 or 2 Ventricle Circulation After Initial Single Ventricle Palliation with Starnes Procedure. Dobson CP, Christopher AB, Castro-Medina M, Viegas ML, Da Silva JP, Da Silva LDF. Pediatr Cardiol. 2023 Dec 1. doi: 10.1007/s00246-023-03336-1. Online ahead of print.

• Tarek Alsaied, MD, UPMC Children’s Heart Institute Faculty, Elected to Society for Pediatric Research

His research interests include imaging markers in Fontan circulation by cardiac MRI in collaboration with heart failure, hepatology and radiology; identifying new therapies for patients with Fontan physiology; and Cardiac MRI research in different diseases and settings (compress sense, 3D Cine and 4D flow).

• Jacqueline Kreutzer, MD, 2023 AHA Women in Cardiology Mentoring Award

This prestigious award recognizes individuals who have an outstanding record of effectively mentoring women cardiologists and underscores the importance of mentoring in the professional development of women.

• Victor O. Morell, MD, Named Chair of Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery

Dr. Morell joined the University of Pittsburgh and UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh in 2004.

• Pediatric Cardiologist Gaurav Arora Named Fellow of Heart Rhythm Society

Dr. Arora was recognized for the distinction at the 2023 Heart Rhythm Society annual meeting held in New Orleans, May 19-21, 2023.

• UPMC Children’s Heart Institute ACHD Specialist, Anita Saraf, MD, PhD, Elected to AARCC Board of Directors

 Dr. Saraf is fellowship-trained in adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) and is a member of the UPMC Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program.

• UPMC Children’s Heart/Lung Transplant Coordinator Receives 2022 Enduring Hearts Organization “Heart and Soul” Transplant Coordinator Award

Allison will be recognized formally at Enduring Hearts' 2023 Bourbon Gala and Auction.

• UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute Welcomes Adult Congenital Heart Disease Expert, Natasha K. Wolfe, MD

Dr. Wolfe specializes in cardiology and adult congenital heart disease.

• Mousumi Moulik, MD, Appointed Co-Director of PedSDP

The Pediatric Scientist Development Program (PedSDP) in the Department of Pediatrics, one of the largest programs of its kind in the U.S., focuses developing pediatrician-scientists through an individualized six-year program that combines residency and fellowship.

• The Evolution of Cardiac Imaging in Pediatrics with Dr. Laura Olivieri

Listen now to learn about how the field of cardiac imaging has changed, utilizing less invasive techniques that improve patient care, and what’s to come as the field continues to evolve.

• Omics-based Research: Creating a Four-Chambered Heart in a Dish with Dr. Guang Li

This episode explores Dr. Li's research on the developing heart with the hope of one day preventing congenital heart defects.

• UPMC Children’s Heart Institute Implants Its First Leadless Pacemaker in Pediatric Heart Patient

Avoiding the need for lead wires and a separate pulse generator simplifies the implantation process – leadless pacemakers are implanted through a transcatheter approach, which avoids the need for a large incision.

• UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute Introduces Center for Aortic Disease Patients

This multidisciplinary center is dedicated to offering comprehensive care for aortic disease patients throughout their lives.

• 30 Years of the Cone Procedure: UPMC Children’s Celebrates Milestone

Commemorative Program Since 1993, Dr. da Silva, alongside Luciana da Fonseca da Silva, MD, PhD, have performed more than 360 cone procedures on patients of all ages and achieve excellent outcomes.

• Harmony Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve in Congenital Heart Disease Patients

The Heart Institute regularly collaborates across the specialty centers and programs to provide innovative, comprehensive are to patients of all ages.

• Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) Excellence at UPMC Children’s Heart Institute

UPMC Children’s uses a careful, multidisciplinary approach to ECMO patient selection to ensure our patients the best chance of a successful outcome.

• UPMC ACHD Program Earns Accreditation

The UPMC Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program earned accreditation from the Adult Congenital Heart Association (ACHA), a nationwide organization focused on connecting patients, family members, and healthcare providers to form a community of support and a network of experts with knowledge of CHD.

• CME Course: Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve Replacement in Congenital Heart Disease

Presenter: Bryan Goldstein, MD, FACC, FSCAI